Review - Mrs. Morris and the Ghost

I discovered this series in my search for Halloween-ish mysteries to celebrate the season.  I am so glad I found it, because I am already eager to read the rest of the series.  If you aren't familiar with this series, see my thoughts on it below. 

Author: Traci Wilton

Copyright: July 2019 (Kensington Cozies) 332 pgs

Series: 1st in Salem B&B Mystery series

Sensuality:  Adult topics discussed

Mystery Sub-genre: Paranormal cozy mystery, amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Charlene Morris, new owner of Strathmore mansion. 

Setting: Contemporary.  Salem, Massachusetts

Obtained Through: Library

Book blurb: "A grieving young widow, Charlene needed a new start—so she bought a historic mansion, sight unseen, and drove from Chicago to New England to start turning it into a bed-and-breakfast. On her first night in the house, she awakens to find a handsome man with startling blue eyes in her bedroom. Terror turns to utter disbelief when he politely introduces himself as Jack Strathmore—and explains that he used to live here—when he was alive. He firmly believes that someone pushed him down the stairs three years ago, and he won’t be able to leave until someone figures out who. If Charlene wants to get her business up and running in time for the Halloween tourist rush, and get this haunting houseguest out of the way, she’ll have to investigate. Though truth be told, this ghost is starting to grow on her . . ."  But Jack's isn't the only murder Charlene will deal with.

Charlene Morris is truly missing her deceased husband and Chicago held too many memories.  She is a "go-getter" with lots of drive and energy. Jack Strathmore is the extremely handsome ghost who owned the family mansion and believes he hasn't moved on because he was murdered.  He can be a bit pushy since he was catered to in life and was a renowned doctor.  Will Johnson and Minnie are her first staff hires.  Will handles the landscaping and maintains the grounds and his wife, Minnie, is housekeeper and cook.  Detective Sam Holden is six foot and looks like the actor Sam Elliot, mustache and all. He is pointedly interested in Charlene. 

The setting of Salem is just touched on in this first book since the mansion being turned into the Bed & Breakfast is the main stage for the story.  I look forward to more about Salem in future books.  The story moves along at a steady pace and kept my interest.  

The killer reveal was well done and I hadn't considered that character as the murdered.  The reveal was tense and played out logically.  I really liked the wrap-up and wonder how the situation with handsome Jack the ghost will develop over the series.

My Thoughts:  I found this to be a delightful ghostly cozy mystery.  I am looking forward to the next in the series already and wish I would have discovered it sooner.  A perfect mix of tenacious heroine, flirty ghost, well developed murder mystery, and spot on writing.  This is great for anytime of the year, not just Halloween.  I can't help but think this might be inspired by the movie The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Review - The Dead Cry Justice

 Heiress-turned-sleuth Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter step out of the elite society of Gilded Age New York as they venture into the city’s crime ridden streets and most dangerous neighborhoods to search for two missing children . . .

This won't be available until Nov 30th

Author: Rosemary Simpson

Copyright: Nov 2021 (Kensington Books) 360 pgs

Series: 6th in Gilded Age Mystery series

Sensuality: harsh realities of brothels discussed and how children are trafficked in sex trade

Mystery Sub-genre: historical mystery, historical private inquiry

Main Characters: Prudence MacKenzie, judge's daughter and heiress-turned-sleuth

Setting: 1890's New York city

Obtained Through: Netgalley

Book Blurb: "May 1890: As NYU Law School finally agrees to admit female law students, Judge MacKenzie’s daughter Prudence weighs her choices carefully. Chief among her concerns is how her decision would affect the Hunter and MacKenzie Investigative Law agency and her professional and personal relationship with the partner who is currently recuperating from a near fatal shooting.

 But an even more pressing issue presents itself in the form of a street urchin, whose act of petty theft inadvertently leads Prudence to a badly beaten girl he is protecting. Fearing for the girl’s life, Prudence rushes her to the Friends Refuge for the Sick Poor, run by the compassionate Charity Sloan. When the boy and girl slip out of their care and run away, Prudence suspects they are fleeing a dangerous predator and is desperate to find them.

 Aided by the photographer and social reformer Jacob Riis and the famous journalist Nellie Bly, Prudence and Geoffrey scour the tenements and brothels of Five Points. Their only clue is a mysterious doll with an odd resemblance to the missing girl. But as the destitute orphans they encounter whisper the nickname of the killer who stalks them—Il diavolo—Prudence and Geoffrey must race against time to find the missing children before their merciless enemies do . . ."

Prudence MacKenzie isn't your typical rich girl. She is wicked smart and determined to be a good investigator. She has to face the realities of sex trafficking of girls in this story.  Geoffrey Hunter, her partner in the investigative agency, is an ex-Pinkerton.  He is very protective of Prudence and clearly cares deeply for her.  Josiah Gregory is their assistant who is a little bit of a mystery himself.  I like this character and want to see more of him.  Charity Sloan is a female Quaker doctor running a clinic who plays a significant part during the investigation.  Detective Warren Lowry is searching for his sister who was abducted from the family home and could be caught up in the same situation.  Danny Dennis is a hansome cab driver who aids Prudence and Geoffrey along with his dog, Blossom and horse, Mr. Washington.  He is a great character.

New York during the Gilded Age was brutal for everyone but the mega-rich.  This novel brings the class disparity into sharp relief and the fact that child sex trafficking has been with us right here in the States for a while.

The plot starts simple and gets more complicated as the reader learns more.  Two young boys that look a lot like the Prudence's sandwich thief are murdered and it's clear the kids are being hunted.  I was drawn in and became invested in the two children fast which kept me reading. 

 The killer confrontation is hair raising and puts both Prudence and Geoffrey in danger.  The wrap-up paves the way for some changes for Prudence.  

I haven't read any of the prior books in this series, this was my first foray and I didn't feel lost at all.  The subject matter is weighty and serious, similar to the Sebastian St. Cyr series.  Other than a more clinical description here and there, there are no graphic depictions. Jacob Riis was a social reformer photographer and journalist Nellie Bly are actual historical figures which brings depth to the investigation.  This was well written, the characters well developed, the investigation doled out clues for the reader at a good pace.  I recommend.  I may go back to the beginning to see how Prudence and Geoffrey's relationship started.

Rating:  Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.

Review - A Brushstroke with Death

As I was looking for some fun cozy mysteries for Halloween to review, I came across this new series.  Check out this witch who is an artist.  I think this may be surprising change for many.  The author, Bethany Blake, wrote six books in the Lucky Paws Pet Sitting mystery series which are going on my TBR list.

Author: Bethany Blake

Copyright: October 2020 (Kensington Cozies) 322 pgs

Series: 1st in An Owl & Crescent Mystery series

Sensuality: n/a

Mystery Sub-genre: Cozy mystery, amateur Sleuth

Main Characters: Willow Bellamy, owner of Owl & Crescent Art Barn 

Setting: Contemporary, Zephry Hollow, Pennsylvania 

Obtained Through: Library

Book Blurb: "Near the creek that runs behind her Pennsylvania house, Willow Bellamy has converted an old barn into an art school—though the place does still have some animal inhabitants, including Rembrandt, the owl who lives up in the rafters. And while it’s important for any artist to have a vision, Willow can sometimes see things others can’t, just like her mother and grandmother before her. Not that she would exactly call herself a witch . . .

 

When some local merchants gather in the studio for a painting party, they focus their attention on a still life with flowers and an assortment of garden tools, including antique pruning shears that disappear—at the same time despised restaurant owner Evangeline Fletcher is murdered. Willow must use all her gifts to find the killer, although it means teaming up with a handsome, mysterious detective whom Willow fears she may have accidentally conjured from a canvas. This investigation is sure to be a hoot . . ."

Willow Bellamy is an artist and witch like her mother and grandmother. I liked her and felt we could be friends. She is thoughtful, reasonable, and loyal.  Astrid Applebee is the owner of Astrid's Astral Emporium, is one of Willow's coven and her friend.  Pepper Armbruster is a powerful witch from a wealthy family and the third member of the coven.  Detective Lucien Turner is completely an enigma who seems to know a lot about witchy things.  Derek Fletcher was Willow's first love and the victim's nephew who just returned to town.  Handyman George Van Buskirk seems mighty fond of Willow's grandmother Anna.  Willow's mother, Celeste Dinsmore Crockett Bellamy, is the Mayor of Zephry - that's not complicated at all.  Then there are the fantastic animals like Rembrandt, the owl; Mortimer, the rescue pig; and Luna, a petite gray cat with a white cresent-shaped mark on her chest that are Willow's companions.

Zephry Hollow is a good setting, but the Owl & Crescent Art Barn is a fantastic setting. Slightly secluded with the victim's mansion the closest home. The weather and seclusion add some atmospheric touches for a gothic touch.

Of course the plot revolves around Evangeline Fletcher's murder and suspects seem plentiful as Willow asks questions of everyone at the painting party to reveal Evangeline had made a lot of enemies.  I found the pacing kept me interested and wanting to read just one more page again and again.  There were a few twists as the story developed that really sucked me in.

I have to hand it to Ms. Blake.  She pulled off a great twist for the killer reveal.  I hadn't figured out the killer until just before the reveal and it was a surprising revelation.  The confrontation itself was a little nail-biting and blood pumping, just like I prefer it. Loved it.  The wrap-up was bittersweet but I can't go into it more than that.

Great fun with a little witchy business without being focused on only the paranormal. It had a twisty plot with some a good surprise at the climax. This is a thoroughly enjoyable cozy has a good paranormal element.

Rating:  Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list 

Mystery Movie Review - Knives Out

If you weren't part of the crowds that saw this movie in the theaters, let me introduce you to the movie Knives Out.  If you packed in to watch it on the "big screen", revisit it for Halloween.  Released November 2019 and rated PG-13.

What it's about

"The night after his 85th birthday, after a party with his combative family, the wildly popular mystery author, Harlan Thrombey (played by the legendary Christopher Plummer from The Sound of Music) dies a sudden and suspicious death. The police arrive to investigate with a well known private investigator named Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig of James Bond fame) sporting a Southern drawl.  The assumption is Harlan committed suicide and cut his own throat - or could it be murder?  Benoit was hired by an unknown person to investigate which adds to the mystique.  The family members are all shown to have reason to kill the author.  The film centers around the author's nurse, Marta, who will literally vomit if she tells a lie.  The all-star cast includes Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) as the nurse. 

Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Critic Leonard Maltin: "Knives Out is never, ever dull and offers the kind of classy entertainment we could use more of on the big screen. And I have a feeling we'll see more of Daniel Craig's colorful character down the road."

• 3 nominations at Golden Globe Awards
• Best Original Screenplay nomination Academy Awards  AND British Academy Film Awards
• Selected for top ten films of 2019 by American Institute and the National Board of Review.
• Plus many, many others

The director, Rian Johnson, wrote the screenplay and specifically wanted to make a Christie inspired murder-mystery film.  Filming was in and around Boston, Massachusetts with the exteriors of the house filmed at a mansion located in Natick, west of Boston. The interior shots used The Ames Mansion in Borderland State Park a lot.

 

My thoughts:

This is perhaps one of the best Hollywood takes on a traditional mystery in the vein of Agatha Christie (but updated) with a powerhouse ensemble cast.  It exceeded my expectations, and most peoples.  The acting reflects that everyone on set was enjoying their roles and the directing and camera angles created the tension and intimate feel.  The mystery has plenty of red-herrings, twists, and a surprise ending.  It is meant to be funny in parts, and pulls it off great.  This is a really good, fun, and clever adult-oriented movie.  

It is an "original" movie, meaning there was no book or comic book with a fan base already existing, it had to stand it on its own merit, and it did.  As one person in the industry noted for a Buzzfeed article: "It’s the stars, but it’s more. It’s the genre, but it’s more. It’s a solid script, a savvy director, attention to detail, and excellent casting." 

Another highlight to this movie is it wasn't generated, like the majority of movies these days, to be the basis for an exploitable merchandising campaign, but solely for the craft of the movie itself.  Sadly, Hollywood hasn't taken the lesson to create and support more original adult-oriented good content, but rather are running with this.  So, there will a Knives Out 2, trying to recreate the magic of the first and will be another Benoit Blanc investigation.  Please don't turn this into a series trying to milk this for every dime.

I highly recommend, make a night of it to watch the movie.

https://youtu.be/sL-9Khv7wa4

If you want more, here is the director going in depth into one scene of the movie and his insights on what the scene took.  https://youtu.be/69GjaVWeGQM

Review - The Unkindness of Ravens

I discovered this debut of a new mystery series on Netgalley and it intrigued me.

Tagline: "Librarian Greer Hogan matches wits with a deviously clever killer in M.E. Hilliard's chilling series debut, ideal for fans of Louise Penny and Dorothy L. Sayers."

Last week I reviewed Bait and Witch for a Halloween touch.  It featured a librarian sleuth, and this week I have another librarian sleuth and this is good for the upcoming holiday as well.  At points I would get the two books mixed in my mind.  But this is different in significant ways.

Author: M.E. Hilliard

Copyright: April 2021 (Crooked Lane Books) 331 pgs

Series: 1st in Greer Hogan Mystery series

Sensuality: mild

Mystery Sub-genre: Amateur Sleuth, traditional mystery

Main Characters: Greer Hogan, librarian who is recently widowed 

Setting: Contemporary, Raven Hill, NY

Obtained Through: Netgalley

Book blurb: "Greer Hogan is a librarian and an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also has a habit of stumbling upon murdered bodies. The first was her husband's, and the tragic loss led Greer to leave New York behind for a new start in the Village of Raven Hill. But her new home becomes less idyllic when she discovers her best friend sprawled dead on the floor of the library.

Was her friend's demise related to two other deaths that the police deemed accidental? Do the residents of this insular village hold dark secrets about another murder, decades ago? Does a serial killer haunt Raven Hill?

As the body count rises, Greer's anxious musings take a darker turn when she uncovers unexpected and distressing information about her own husband's death...and the man who went to prison for his murder. She is racked with guilt at the possibility that her testimony may have helped to convict an innocent man.

Though Greer admires the masters of deduction she reads about in books, she never expected to have to solve a mystery herself. Fortunately, she possesses a quick wit and a librarian's natural resourcefulness. But will that be enough to protect her from a brilliant, diabolical murderer?

And even if Greer manages to catch the Raven Hill killer, will living with her conscience prove a fate worse than death?"

Greer has been the librarian for six months and remains hopeful of seeing a ghost in the supposedly haunted mansion made into the library. She is still a little traumatized from discovering her husband and discovering her friend's body brings it all back again.  There are a few employees at the library, but none take more of a central role.  She rents the top of a house owned by Henri and his dog Pierre who are the breakout characters and I adore them. Henri has sort of unofficially adopted Greer.  Officer Jennie Webber ends up being a substantial character in the investigation and I like this character and would love to see more of her.

Raven Hill and the gothic library with a brooding exterior are each used to great effect.  The creek, called Ravens Kill, was the sight of an old drowning and adds creepy touches as well. "I have it on good authority that the currents have always been strange in the Ravens Kill."

The plot centers around a killer who struck a woman down during library hours. Greer tries to figure out the culprit while fully aware the murderer could be lurking and watching.  The pacing is steady and this book builds till the very tense climax. 

The killer reveal, or showdown, is excellent and left me breathless.  Greer is daring and smart against the killer. Excellent. While I had begun to suspect the killer, the full motive revealed just how cold blooded the murderer was.  The wrap-up answers the final questions and firmly sets up the next book where she will face some nagging discrepancies in her husband's murder since she has had to relive that trauma throughout the story.

My thoughts: This book tries for literary, but some literary allusions didn't make sense or seemed forced to appear "literary".  The writing style adds to the atmospheric feel throughout the book. This is a little darker in feel and style than a cozy mystery and there isn't any romantic interest or light moments.  Overall the book is well done with a solid mystery and compelling characters, and the gripping climax is superb.

Rating: Excellent - Loved it! Buy it now and put this author on your watch list